After a spring training circus that featured a seemingly endless streak of headlines that had little to do with baseball and everything to do with Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees should be grateful to simply play ball. The good news is newcomers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira all seemed to fit in extremely well with their new club, with Sabathia and Burnett helping build a strong camaraderie among the starters. The bad news? Rodriguez will be out until at least late April because of hip surgery, but that might not stop the headlines around his numerous off-the-field exploits, beginning with his performance-enhancing drug use and stretching to reports of his dalliances with the madam of an escort agency. If the Yankees can keep their focus on the field, get Rodriguez back and stay healthy, they can open their new Yankee Stadium in style. If the age of the roster and vulnerability of some veterans hurts them, manager Joe Girardi could be looking for a new job.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Chien-Ming Wang on Wednesday will make his first regular-season start since injuring his foot last June 15 while running the bases in an interleague game against Houston. Wang is the relatively forgotten man in the Yankees' star-studded rotation after offseason blockbuster signings of LHP CC Sabathia and RHP A.J. Burnett, but he posted consecutive 19-win seasons in 2006 and '07. He also had gone 8-2 before the injury last June and has impressed manager Joe Girardi with his recovery this spring. "He was a big loss last year," Girardi said in a recent press briefing. "I've been happy with what I've seen from him, whether it's been pitching or physically. I have a good feeling about his season."
--3B Cody Ransom was smart enough to know he couldn't fill Alex Rodriguez's shoes and has been offered great support by Yankees players and coaches, so he should be able to shrug off his inauspicious debut in Monday's season-opening loss to the Orioles. He'll also apparently have to get used to getting replaced late in games. Ransom went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Monday, and Nick Swisher pinch-hit for him late in the game.
--1B/OF Nick Swisher wasn't too happy about starting the season on a bench, but he said he'd do his best to adjust, and he got off to a good start Monday. Swisher, who lost out on a starting job in right to Xavier Nady, came on as a pinch hitter and doubled. Manager Joe Girardi has said he'd do his best to get Swisher as much time as possible with fill-in spots in the outfield and at first. With 3B Cody Ransom filling in for Alex Rodriguez and slick-fielding rookie INF Ramiro Pena on the bench, Girardi also could use Swisher as a pinch hitter for Ransom late, as he did in the season opener.
--CF Brett Gardner had the kind of game the Yankees want to see from him in Monday's season opener. The speedy rookie, who beat out Melky Cabrera for the job in center, went 1-for-3 with a run and a sacrifice. Gardner also threw out Baltimore's Melvin Mora at the plate, which provided the perfect balance of defense and production from the No. 9 hitter.
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Alex Rodriguez (arthroscopic right hip surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He could be back as soon as late April. He will have more extensive surgery during the offseason.
DH Hideki Matsui (left knee surgery in September 2008) won't play in the field before June.
ROTATION:
1. LHP CC Sabathia
2. RHP Chien-Ming Wang
3. RHP A.J. Burnett
4. LHP Andy Pettitte
5. RHP Joba Chamberlain
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP Brian Bruney
LHP Damaso Marte
LHP Phil Coke
RHP Edwar Ramirez
RHP Jose Veras
RHP Jonathan Albaladejo
LINEUP:
1. SS Derek Jeter
2. LF Johnny Damon
3. 1B Mark Teixeira
4. DH Hideki Matsui
5. C Jorge Posada
6. 2B Robinson Cano
7. RF Xavier Nady
8. 3B Cody Ransom
9. CF Brett Gardner
RESERVES:
C Jose Molina
OF/1B Nick Swisher
OF Melky Cabrera
INF Ramiro Pena
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